Grayville looks at policies on social media

Athletic policies were a point of contention at the Wednesday, Aug. 21 meeting of the Grayville School Board.

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By Patrick SeilOf The Navigator

The Carmi Times - Carmi, IL

By Patrick SeilOf The Navigator

Posted Aug. 31, 2013 at 11:00 AM

By Patrick SeilOf The Navigator
Posted Aug. 31, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Athletic policies were a point of contention at the Wednesday, Aug. 21 meeting of the Grayville School Board.

Board members questioned a district policy allowing penalties for athletes for negative comments posted by their family members about coaches or staff members on social media.

Meanwhile, a small group of outraged parents contended the school system has no right to punish athletes for violations of the law committed during the summer months.

Board member Bob Armstrong raised the social media policy question. "I don't know that's a realistic expectation," he said. "When you're holding the kids responsible (for the actions of another family member) I think that's overreaching. You're putting the kid under the gun for what their parents do. The kids are sort of blowing in the wind."

The current language bans "negative or derogatory" comments from social media, Armstrong said. "You can't culturally define that," he said, adding he would prefer to change the passage to "threatening or slanderous."

At the suggestion of Board President David Hall, the matter was tabled. It is expected to be addressed again at a special meeting.

Kathy Thompson sparked the discussion of off-season conduct, asking the board, "How can you all take responsibility for what happens to our kids in the summertime?"

Supt. Sarah Emery said the district maintains a "reciprocating agreement" with law enforcement, with local authorities informing school administration when a student breaks the law at any point in the year.

"Many schools have the same code of conduct," she said. "It's by choice whether they want to participate."

The installation of security equipment and its maintenance reared its head again. Sonitrol of Evansville, Ind. was awarded a contract for the job a few months ago, but progress stalled when board members questioned if the company was licensed to do business in Illinois.

Emery said she checked with state authorities and found Sonitrol has been operating legally in Illinois under the license of its parent company, Stanley Convergent Security Solutions.

After an extended debate, Board President David Hall said Sonitrol should be allowed to honor the contract, bringing the discussion to a halt.

FFA advisor Ashley Carey gave a lengthy presentation on the local chapter, which is the district's largest organization with 53 members out of the 80-plus students in high school. The board gave unanimous approval to a Donkeyball fundraiser for the group on Oct. 3.

District enrollment was reported at 207 at the elementary school, which is a small increase over last year, 54 in the junior high and 82 at the high school, for a total of 314. With 30 children attending pre-kindergarten, enrollment stands at 344, up 24 students district-wide.

After some discussion, admission to sporting events was left at $3 for adults and $1 each for students and senior citizens.Admission to the Thanksgiving Invitational basketball tournament was raised from $4 per adult to $5 and from $2 for students to $3. Senior citizens will still pay only $1 to enter the tournament.